2 Aneurysms

For several months now, Mark has been having problems with his knee(s) but typical of him, wouldn't make an appointment to go see the doctor so I did it for him. During the appointment he described his issues to the doctor and one of the things he mentioned was that his back was hurting from time to time and that he thought it was due to his knee hurting. The doctor decided to send him for an MRI to check out his knee but also his back to see what was going on there. The results of the MRI showed that he has a chip in the knee area and that it has to be surgically repaired. They also saw a spot in his stomach area which they felt was something that needed to be look into more deeply. He was sent to a specialist and sent for a CT scan. Today he went to the specialist to hear the results of the scan and found out that he has not one but two aneurysms in his stomach area that need to be removed IMMEDIATELY. Both aneurysms are twice the normal size. Surgery is scheduled for December 29th...

An aneurysm is a balloon-like bulge in an artery. Aneurysms can form in arteries of all sizes. An aneurysm occurs when the pressure of blood passing through part of a weakened artery forces the vessel to bulge outward, forming what you might think of as a blister. Not all aneurysms are life-threatening. But if the bulging stretches the artery too far, this vessel may burst, causing a person to bleed to death.

Where do aneurysms occur in the body?

In parts of the aorta. The aorta is the large vessel that carries blood from the heart to other parts of the body. Aortic aneurysms can occur in the area below the stomach (abdominal aneurysm) or in the chest (thoracic aneurysm). An abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is usually located below the kidneys. Aortic dissection can occur in the aorta and its main branches.

How do aneurysms happen, and who is at risk?

Any condition that causes the walls of the arteries to weaken can lead to an aneurysm. The following increase the risk of an aneurysm or an aortic dissection:

Atherosclerosis (a build-up of fatty plaque in the arteries).
High blood pressure.
Smoking.
Deep wounds, injuries, or infections of the blood vessels